Summer Intern Program (New York)

Job Description

About Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s, established in 1744, is the world’s leading destination for art and luxury. The company facilitates access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through various channels, including auctions, private sales, e-commerce, and retail. Sotheby’s boasts a trusted global marketplace backed by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories, including:

• Contemporary Art
• Modern and Impressionist Art
• Old Masters
• Chinese Works of Art
• Jewelry
• Watches
• Wine and Spirits
• Design
• Collectible Cars
• Real Estate

Sotheby’s is committed to making the art and luxury industries more inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative.

2025 Summer Internship Program (New York)

Sotheby’s is offering an exceptional 10-week paid Summer Internship Program to undergraduate students interested in a career in the fine art and auction world. This program provides practical training experience across various business areas, allowing interns to work within a specific department aligned with their academic interests and professional goals.

During the program, interns will:

• Experience the inner workings of a world-renowned auction house.
• See great rarities and discover potential industry career opportunities.
• Gain hands-on learning, mentorship, and participate in team projects.
• Network with peers, mentors, and senior managers through team-building sessions, museum tours, and organized events.
• Innovate with peers through a final Capstone project, presenting to executives during the final week of the program.

Program Details:

• Onsite, paid full-time 10-week program.
• Dates: Monday, June 2 – Friday, August 8, 2025.

Qualifications, Skills & Requirements:

• Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree with a graduation date between December 2025 and June 2026.
• Strong academic record with a minimum 3.2 GPA.
• Adaptive, multi-tasker with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and demonstrated leadership skills.
• Curiosity and passion for the fine art or luxury markets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to complete the entirety of the onsite 10-week program.

Deadline:

• Applications close on January 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST.
• Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Sotheby’s Summer Internship Grant

Sotheby’s is committed to diversity and offers a Summer Internship Grant as part of its recruiting efforts. The grant is awarded to students who embody the company’s values and receive a one-time financial payment of $2,000 prior to the program start date. All majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Sotheby’s Summer Internship Grant Essay Questions:

• Why do you want to intern at Sotheby’s? What are your long-term career goals? (Response limit: 180 words)
• What is a significant challenge that impacts historically excluded groups in the Art & Luxury markets and what do you believe is the root cause of this challenge? Have you been impacted by or overcome these challenges? If so, please provide an example. (Response limit: 180 words)

Sotheby’s Summer Internship Departments

Applicants are required to indicate their top 3 department preferences:

Business Development:

• Client Strategy
• Consignment Management
• Fiduciary Client Group (FCG)
• Museum and Corporate Art Group
• Restitution
• Valuations

Corporate:

• Communications
• Content
• Editorial
• Human Resources
• Marketing
• Marketing – Media
• Proposals
• Social Media

Finance:

• Sotheby’s Financial Services

Global Fine Art:

• American Art
• Americana
• Chinese Works of Art
• Contemporary Art
• Design
• European Furniture
• European Works of Art
• Impressionist & Modern
• Indian & South East Asian Art and African & Oceanic
• Latin American Art
• Old Masters
• Photo
• Prints & Multiples
• Private Sales
• Silver & Ceramics

Luxury:

• Books & Manuscripts
• Handbags & Accessories
• Jewelry
• Marketplace
• Science & Popular Culture
• Sneakers & Streetwear
• Watches + Clocks
• Wine & Spirits

Operations:

• Logistics (focuses on internal supply chain management and sale calendar planning for sales & exhibitions)
• Service Operations (oversees the in-person and transactional client experience)
• Security (ensures the highest level of protection for the company, locations, assets, employees, and clients)
• Procurement (guarantees that Sotheby’s receives the best value for goods and services contracted throughout the organization)
• Real Estate (manages the company’s real estate portfolio; includes leasing, purchasing, daily building operations, and construction related projects)

Product & Technology:

• Product Management (work within cross-functional teams to understand, define, and prioritize business problems)
• Software Development
• Data Engineering & Business Intelligence

Summer Intern Program: Product & Technology

Interns in Product & Technology will be expected to be onsite in the New York office from Monday, June 2 – Friday, August 8, 2025. Product & Technology team members are located globally and are mostly remote.